Fixing Your Inflatable Boat Without Glue - Hot Air Patch Welding on an Zodiac Boat

On this episode of INFLATED!!!
On this episode of INFLATED, I show you folks another method of repairing your inflatable boat without using glue. This is an expert level of repair, and don't recommend you go and do these types of repairs yourself without prior experience. If you do so, I don't take any responsibility for the destruction of your inflatable boat. This is for PVC fabrics only!!!
***Warning: This is for experienced expert inflatable boat repair tech. Performing this repair job without prior experience can cause major damage to your boat. For PVC fabrics ONLY!!!***
All tools and supplies used in this video except MEK or Acetone are available on our website...
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[@stefanoskolovouris7223]

Congratulations from Greece.

[@SeattleRingHunter]

Nice work only one thing to consider on the next go around is to round off your patch edges a from 90 degree so they don't catch and edge as general practice. Nice work. Cheers, #SeattleRingHunter

[@gashopperinc]

I know I know. Lol. Been getting lots of feedback for not rounding the corners. I normally do round the corners 99.9% of the time but when it's being covered by the floor or an accessory and isn't visible with no chance of catching or peeling, I'll sometimes get lazy. No worries though, with all the feedback, corners are going to be rounded every time now.

[@skyheaven1977]

Master level with a square patch hmmm ;)

[@gashopperinc]

When is gets covered by the floor, rounded corners aren't necessary. Plus when heat welding patches, best to us square patches for optimal performance not round ones.

[@jaimeorozco9122]

Great video

[@gashopperinc]

Glad you enjoyed it, just letting everyone know there's other options then glueing.

[@jeepchievous]

Round your corners on your patch. Good job doe.

[@gashopperinc]

We normally do, but since this is going to where the floor fabric covers it, and being thermo bonded, we decided to save a couple minutes on the trimming the corners.

[@SeattleRingHunter]

@@gashopperinc basically lazy workmanship. Takes to seconds to round the edges with shop sheers. 🤣🤣🤣

[@gashopperinc]

Be sure to hit that LIKE button if enjoyed. SUBSCRIBE if your new to the channel.

[@jaimeorozco9122]

Absolutely

[@jaimeorozco9122]

Not that I would attempt this but there's no adhesive correct just melting one pvc layer to another.

[@gashopperinc]

@jaimeorozco9122 no Adhesives, straight heat

[@jaimeorozco9122]

@@gashopperinc do you have any recommendations for uv protectant?

[@freshlycutlawnservice]

Need help I have a West Marine PVc boat needs some work lol I tried to patch it and the first patch fald . I was doing a inside patch first when I was sanding the out side to put the second patch on for the put side it started to l;eak I was so pissed lol .. I'm Using HH 66 PVc glue . I feel like I did something wrong .. i sanded it with 80 grit sand paper is that to harsh ? I applied two coats of glue it didn't stick all that great I had to heat it up with the heat gun that seam to get the g;lue sticky again .. I knew right away this patch was going to suck .. Any tips ?? On the glue up ? .. I'm going to go out side soon and see if the second patch held better .. Shouldn't the patch be lilke super sticky and bond right away and not want to peal up .. Any help would be awesome ! Thanks man ! Really enjoy the chanel !! Cheers man !! 🍺 🤙🏽

[@gashopperinc]

Thank you for tuning in!!! I have videos for inner patch repairs already posted, just have to scan through the channel. They have great tips and tricks for you. But from the sounds of it, your prep is good, just wipe with acetone or MEK afterwards, but also throw that can of HH66 in the garbage. It's not made for repairs on inflatable boats, even though lots of folks swear by it. You need a 2 part glue, either by Zodiac, Stabond or Weaver. Those are the highly recommended glues we sell and use here, but running short at the moment on some brands. Use those glues, and you should have no problem with a repair like that.

[@glennr9913]

That's a handy looking welder. How did you decide what size to make the patch? My novice mind probably would have made it much larger, without a good reason. Did the inner patch material also weld onto the inside? Thanks for the video.

[@gashopperinc]

Well, since there isn't any schooling for this, unless you work in the roofing or membrane industry, lots of trial and error and scrap PVC to see what worked and what didn't. Also some tips from membrane welders helped too. I find just going slightly bigger than the tip provides uniform heat distribution under the patch. Bigger isn't always better from what I found. And the underlay patch, most of the time gets welded due to the heat transom. That's why it's used to prevent the one side of the tube from getting welded to the other side. That's the main reason for making a small cut and inserting the underlay patch. I've has a lot of trial and errors before performing this on clients boats and before presenting it to the world as another option instead of using the toxic glue. There is pros and cons to this. After watching the video a few times, thinking of doing another video, a little more in depth of the benefits and downfalls of hot air welding your inflatable boat.

[@rudytamayo2646]

​@@gashopperinc yes I'm curious what instances would warrant welding vs just gluing on a patch. Thanks 😊 🙋‍♂️

[@boaterderek]

Can hardly see it....

[@kipwyand7869]

How do you know when you are beating a "Dead Horse" some of the boats you work on are decades old. When you google how long inflatable boats last, it is something like 3 to 10 years.

[@gashopperinc]

Good question, up here in Canada, these boats don't get the normal abuse that you would see in the hotter climates and therefore you'll a lot of the vintage boats on my channel. The biggest issue with inflatable boats, is aging of the glue. If a PVC boat is glued, or assembled poorly, they generally last 5-15 years here in Canada. Higher end ones will last longer. If you have a Hypalon boat up here, I've seen some come through that are 40 years old. The Google articles you read are more for those who live in warmer tropical climates as these are where inflatable boats are mostly used. As long as the skin is still good, these boats can be put back together.

[@kipwyand7869]

@@gashopperinc Makes sense. So you could make more money down here in FL I guess. Come on down friend!

[@gashopperinc]

Been tempted to do so and see what opportunities can be made down near the warmer climates. The snow here is getting to me.

[@rudytamayo2646]

​@@gashopperinclet's do it brother!! Let's both move down to Florida or somewhere in the Caribbean and open up a shop. It's a lifelong dream of mine. It will likely take some major convincing the wife I'm sure lol but man, that would be awesome!!

[@danielmirceacristian9607]

@@kipwyand7869 can i do that on an Intex mariner 4?